USS Tarakaan Island (SPD-3)—Self-propelled dry dock (SPD). Twin-screw, triple-expansion steam engine; 15,990 tons; 800′ x 100′. Armament: 3 x DP 4″-50, 6 x .30 cal MG.
USS Savoie (BB-1)—26,000 tons; 548′ x 88′; 4 screws. Max speed: 20 knots. 1,050 officers and enlisted. Initial armament: 8 x 340 mm (13.5″), 8 x 138.6 mm (5.5″), 8 x DP 75 mm (3″), 5 x quad-mount 13.2 mm, 24 x 8 mm.
USS Fitzhugh Gray (CL-1)—Four-stacker light cruiser. Triple-screw steam turbines; 3,800 tons, 440′ x 45′. Max speed: 30–35 knots. 211 officers and enlisted. Armament: Main—3 x 2 DP 5.5″. Secondary—5 x DP 4″-50, 2 x 21″ quadruple-tube torpedo mounts, 6 x twin .50 cal. MG, 6 x Y guns (with adapters), 80 MK-6 (or equivalent) depth charges for 2 stern racks. 2 x impulse-activated catapults for PB-1B Nancy seaplanes.
U-112 (Type XIB submarine)—371′ x 31′, 4,600 tons submerged. Twin-screw, 8 x 12 cyl diesel engines, 2 x electric motors. Max speed: 18 knots surface, 6.5 knots submerged. 110 officers and enlisted. Armament: 6 x 21″ torpedo tubes, 4 bow, 2 stern. 4 x 127 mm guns in 2 armored mounts, 2 x 37 mm, 2 x 20 mm.
Carriers
USNRS (US Navy Reserve Ship) Salissa (Big Sal, CV-1)—Aircraft carrier/tender, converted from seagoing Lemurian Home. Single-screw, triple-expansion steam; 13,000 tons; 1,009′ x 200′. Armament: 2 x 5.5″, 6 x 4″-50 DP, 4 x twin-mount 25 mm AA, 20 x 50 pdrs (as reduced), 50 aircraft assembled, 80–100 in crates.
USS Maaka-Kakja (CV-4)—Purpose-built aircraft carrier/tender. Single-screw, triple-expansion steam; 14,670 tons; 1009′ x 210′. Armament: 2 x 4.7″ DP, 50 x 50 pdrs. Up to 80 aircraft.
USS Madras (CV-8)—Baalkpan Bay–class fleet carrier. 9,000 tons, 850′ x 150′. Twin-screw, triple-expansion steam. Max speed: 15 knots. Armament: 4 x Baalkpan Arsenal 4″-50 DP guns, 2 amidships, 1 each forward and aft. Can carry as many aircraft as Maaka-Kakja.
USS New Dublin (CV-6)—Same as above.
USS Raan-Goon (CV-7)—Same as above.
Frigates (DDs)
USS Donaghey (DD-2)—Square-rig sail, 1,200 tons, 168′ x 33′; 200 officers and enlisted. Sole survivor of first new construction. Armament: 24 x 18 pdrs, Y gun, and depth charges.
*Dowden class—Square-rig steamer, 1,500 tons, 185′ x 34′. Max speed: 12–15 knots. Armament: 20 x 32 pdrs, Y gun, and depth charges. 218 officers and enlisted.
**Haakar-Faask class—Square-rig steamer, 1,600 tons, 200′ x 36′. Max speed: 15 knots. Armament: 20 x 32 pdrs, Y gun, and depth charges. 226 officers and enlisted.
***Scott class—Square-rig steamer, 1,800 tons, 210′ x 40′. Max speed: 17 knots. Armament: 20 x 50 pdrs, Y gun, and depth charges. 260 officers and enlisted.
Note: Nearly all of these have been converted to AVDs (destroyer/seaplane tenders), DMs (destroyer/mine layers), fast transports, and auxiliaries.
Auxiliaries—Purpose-built heavy-hauler transports, oilers, tenders, and general cargo vessels. A growing number of steam auxiliaries have joined the fleet, with hull dimensions similar to enlarged Scott-class DDs, but with minimal armament. Some fast clipper-shaped vessels are still employed as long-range oilers. Fore- and aft-rigged feluccas remain in service as fast transports and scouts.
Respite Island–class SPDs—Self-propelled dry dock. Designed along similar hull lines as the new purpose-built carriers, and inspired by the massive seagoing Lemurian Homes. They are intended as rapid-deployment, heavy-lift dry docks, and for bulky transport.
USNRS—Salaama-Na Home—Unaltered, other than by emplacement of 50 x 50 pdrs. 8,600 tons, 1014′ x 150′. 3 tripod masts support semirigid “junklike” sails or “wings.” Max speed: about 6 knots, but capable of short sprints up to 10 knots using 100 long sweeps. In addition to living space in the hull, there are three tall pagoda-like structures within the tripods that cumulatively accommodate up to 6,000 people.
Woor-Na Home—Lightly armed (10 x 32 pdrs) heavy transport, specifications as for Salaama-Na.
MTBs—50′ long x 16′ wide, 14 tons, twin 6-cylinder engines and screws. Max speed: 26 knots. Crew: 12 officers and enlisted. Armament: 2 x 21″ torpedoes, 3 x .30 cal MGs.
Aircraft
P-40E Warhawk—Allison V1710, V12, 1,150 hp. Max speed: 360 mph. Ceiling 29,000 ft. Crew: 1. Armament: 6 x .50 cal Browning MG, and up to 1,000-lb bomb.
PB-1B “Nancy”—W/G type, in-line 4 cyl 150 hp. Max speed: 110 mph. Max weight: 1,900 lbs. Crew: 2. Armament: 400-lb bombs.
PB1-F “Nancy”—10 cyl, 410 hp faired in radial. Max speed: 160 mph. Max weight: 2,600 lbs. Crew: 2. Armament: 600-lb bombs, 2 x .30 cal Browning MG in fuselage.
PB-2 “Buzzard”—3 x W/G type, in-line 4 cyl 150 hp. Max speed: 80 mph. Max weight: 3,000 lbs. Crew: 2, and up to 6 passengers. Armament: 600-lb bombs.
PB-5 “Clipper”—4 x W/G type, in-line 4 cyl 150 hp. Max speed: 90 mph. Max weight: 4,800 lbs. Crew: 3, and up to 8 passengers. Armament: 1,500-lb bombs.
PB-5B—As for PB-5, but powered by 4 x MB 5 cyl, 254 hp radials. Max speed: 125 mph. Max weight: 6,200 lbs. Crew: 3, and up to 10 passengers. Armament: 2,000-lb bombs.
PB-5D “Clipper”—4 x 10 cyl, 410 hp radials. Max speed: 145 mph. Max weight: 7,800 lbs. Crew: 5–6, and up to 8 passengers. Armament: 5 x .30 cal, 2,500-lb bombs/torpedoes.
P-1B Mosquito Hawk or “Fleashooter”—MB 5 cyl 254 hp radial. Max speed: 220 mph. Max weight: 1,220 lbs. Crew: 1. Armament: 2 x .45 cal Blitzerbug machine guns in wheel pants.
P-1C—10 cyl, 410 hp radial. Max speed: 265 mph. Max weight: 1,740 lbs. Crew: 1. Armament: 2 x .30 cal Browning MG in wings.
JU-52—3 x BMW Hornet 518 hp radials. Max speed: 160 mph. Max weight: 20,000 lbs.
Field artillery—6 pdr on stock-trail carriage—effective to about 1,500 yds, or 300 yds with canister. 12 pdr on stock-trail carriage—effective to about 1,800 yds, or 300 yds with canister. 3″ mortar—effective to about 800 yds. 4″ mortar—effective to about 1,500 yds.
Primary small arms—Allin-Silva breech-loading rifle (.50–80 cal), Allin-Silva breech-loading smoothbore (20 gauge), 1911 Colt and copies (.45 ACP), Blitzerbug SMG (.45 ACP). M-1917 Navy cutlass, grenades, bayonet.
Secondary small arms—Rifle-musket (.50 cal), 1903 Springfield (.30–06), 1898 Krag-Jorgensen (.30 US), 1918 BAR (.30–06), Thompson SMG (.45 ACP). A small number of other firearms are available.
MGs—1919 water-cooled Browning and copies (.30–06). 41 lbs without mount, 400–600 rpm, 1,500 yds. M2 Browning and copies (.50 cal). 121 lbs (with water jacket). Light-barrel versions from P-40s weigh 60 lbs.
Armored vehicles—Mk-II Grikoshai or “Grik Smusher”—16′ long x 10′ wide, 7 tons. Crew: 4+1 (Lemurians). Armament: 2 x .30 cal MG, 1 x .50 cal MG in a top-mounted turret.
Imperial Ships and Equipment
Until recently, few Imperial ships shared enough specifics to be described as classes, but could be grouped by size and capability. Most shared the fundamental similarity of being powered by steam-driven paddle wheels and a complete suit of sails. Copies of Allied Scott-class DDs were briefly made, but all-new construction is being equipped with double- or triple-expansion engines, screw propellers, and iron hulls.
Ships of the line—About 180′–200′ x 52′–58′, 1,900–2,200 tons. 50–80 x 30 pdrs, 20 pdrs, 10 pdrs, 8 pdrs. (8 pdrs are more commonly used as field guns by the Empire.) Speed: about 8–10 knots. 400–475 officers and enlisted.
Frigates—About 160′–180′ x 38′–44′, 1,200–1,400 tons. 24–40 x 20–30 pdrs. Speed: about 13–15 knots. 275–350 officers and enlisted. Example: HIMS Achilles, 160′ x 38′, 1,300 tons, 26 x 20 pdrs.
Field artillery—The Empire of the New Britain Isles has adopted the Allied 12 pdr.
Primary small arms—Allin-Silva breech-loading rifle (.50–80 cal), rifle-musket (.50 cal), bayonet. Swords and smoothbore flintlock muskets (.75 cal), are now considered secondary and are issued to native allies in the Dominion.
The Republic is building blue-water Imperator-class protected cruisers, though details of their design have Matt Reddy wondering if they’d be better described as battlecruisers—or targets.
Princeps-class coastal- and harbor-defense monitors—210′ x 50′, 1,200 tons. Twin-screw, 11 knots, 190 officers and enlisted. Armament: 4 x 8″ guns in two turrets, 4 x MG08 8 x 57 mm (Maxim) MG on flying bridge.
Field artillery—75 mm quick-firing breechloader based on the French 75. Range: 3,000 yds with black powder propellant and time or contact fuse exploding shell. 300 yds with canister.
Primary small arms: Breech-loading bolt action, single-shot rifle, 11.15 x 60R (.43 Mauser) cal.
Secondary small arms: M-1898 Mauser (8 x 57 mm), Mauser and Luger pistols, mostly in 11 and 7.65 mm.
Republic military rank structure is a combination of ancient and new, with a few unique aspects. Each legion, commanded by a colonel, has six cohorts. The senior cohort commander (and XO) is the prefect, and roughly equivalent to a major. The remaining cohorts are led by senior centurions (captains), who still command one of the six centuries in the cohort through their senior optio (2nd lieutenant), who has a junior optio (like an ensign) as his assistant. Other centurions are roughly equivalent to 1st lieutenants. The Republic also has provisions for temporary, special-purpose rank appointments. A military tribune may be given specific tasks requiring them to outrank all prefects and below, as well as single-ship captains. A legate may supersede the colonel of any legion for a specific purpose, unless countermanded by the general of the army the legion is attached to. Likewise, legates act as commodores at sea.
Enemy Warships and Equipment
Grik
New, unnamed class of Grik BBs (ironclad battleships)—800′ x 100′, about 27,000 tons. Twin-screw, double-expansion steam. Max speed: 10 knots. Crew: 1,300. Armament: 3 x 15″ 400 pdrs (2 forward, 1 aft), 24 x 100 pdrs, 24 x 4″ AA mortars.
Azuma-class CAs (ironclad cruisers)—300′ x 37′, about 3,800 tons. Twin-screw, double-expansion steam, sail auxiliary. Max speed: 12 knots. Crew: 320. Armament: 20 x 40 pdrs or 14 x 50 pdrs, and 1 or 2 x 100 pdrs. 4 x firebomb catapults.
Tatsuta—Kurokawa’s double-ended paddle/steam yacht. The pattern for all Grik tugs and light transports.
Aircraft—Hydrogen-filled rigid dirigibles or zeppelins. 300′ x 48′, 5 x 2 cyl 80 hp engines. Max speed: 60 mph. Useful lift: 3,600 lbs. Crew: 16. Armament: 6 x 2 pdr swivel guns, bombs.
AJ1M1c Fighter—9 cyl 380 hp radial. Max speed: 260 mph. Max weight: 1,980 lbs. Crew: 1. Armament: 2 x Type 89 MG (copies) 7.7 x 58mm SR cal.*
DP1M1 Torpedo Bomber—2 x 9 cyl 380 hp radials. Max speed: 180 mph. Max weight: 3,600 lbs. Crew: 3. Armament: 1 x Type 89 MG (copy) 7.7 x 58 mm SR cal.* 1 torpedo or 1,000-lb bombs.
*Note: Other than those on former Japanese aircraft, no MG of any type is available to the Grik—as yet.
Field artillery—The standard Grik field piece is a 9 pdr, but 4s and 16s are also used, with effective ranges of 1,200, 800, and 1,600 yds, respectively. Powder is satisfactory, but windage is often excessive, resulting in poor accuracy. Grik “field” firebomb throwers fling 10- and 25-lb bombs, depending on the size, for a range of 200 and 325 yds, respectively.
Primary small arms—Copies of Allied .60 Cal smoothbore percussion muskets are now widespread, but swords and spears are still in use—as are teeth and claws.
League of Tripoli
Leopardo—Leone- (Exploratori-) class destroyer. 372′ x 34′, 2,600 tons. Twin-screw. Max speed: 30 knots. Armament: 8 x 120 mm, 6 x 20 mm, 4 x 21″ torpedo tubes. 210 officers and enlisted.
Ramb V—Auxiliary cruiser/tender. 383′ x 49’, 3,730 tons. Twin-screw. Max speed: 18.5 knots. Armament: 3 x 4.7″ guns, 8 x 13.2 mm antiaircraft guns. 1 catapult for observation floatplane. 111 officers and enlisted.
Holy Dominion
Like Imperial vessels, Dominion warships fall in a number of categories difficult to describe as classes, but, again, can be grouped by size and capability. Despite their generally more primitive design, Dom warships run larger and more heavily armed than their Imperial counterparts.
Ships of the line—About 200′ x 60′, 3,400–3,800 tons. 64–98 x 24 pdrs, 16 pdrs, 9 pdrs. Speed: about 7–10 knots. 470–525 officers and enlisted.
Heavy frigates (cruisers)—About 170′ x 50′, 1,400–1,600 tons. 34–50 x 24 pdrs, 9 pdrs. Speed: about 14 knots. 290–370 officers and enlisted.
Aircraft—The Doms have no aircraft yet, but employ dragons or “Grikbirds” for aerial attack.
Field artillery—9 pdrs on split-trail carriages—effective to about 1,500 yds, or 600 yds with grapeshot.
Primary small arms—Flintlock (patilla-style) musket (.69 cal), sword, pike, bayonet. Only officers and cavalry use pistols, which are often quite ornate and of various calibers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Taylor Anderson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Destroyermen novels. A gunmaker and forensic ballistic archaeologist, Taylor has been a technical and dialogue consultant for movies and documentaries and is an award-winning member of the National Historical Honor Society and of the United States Field Artillery Association.
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Pass of Fire Page 58